Congress weighs in on DHS social media outreach

By Zach Noble

May 06, 2015

The first iteration of legislation aimed at boosting the Homeland Security Department’s Social Media Working Group may have died in the Senate last year, but the idea is back and the 2015 version is now working its way through Congress.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the measure May 6. The House passed the bill in February.

As with the 2014 bill, the 2015 edition seeks to authorize a working group within DHS that would provide guidance for the use of social media during terrorist attacks and other emergency situations.

The group would also seek and develop best practices, offer training, and study the flow of information through social media networks in crises.

The bill calls for the Social Media Working Group to meet twice a year and include at least three private-sector representatives, as well as representatives from state, local, federal and tribal governments.

Before joining FCW in 2015, Noble served as assistant editor at the viral news site TheBlaze, where he wrote a mix of business, political and breaking news stories and managed weekend news coverage. He has also written for online and print publications including The Washington Free Beacon, The Santa Barbara News-Press, The Federalist and Washington Technology.

Noble is a graduate of Saint Vincent College, where he studied English, economics and mathematics.

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